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Meade 4000 series

Hi, I am wanting to get a new eyepiece and need a good plossl for my projection photography. (only fits slim eyepieces) I am looking for one with a longer focal length like 20mm to 30mm for still a good price. I heard the 4000s were good? What do you think?

Not sure about projection photography, but the Series 4000 Meade plossls are a great value eyepiece. While I'm now upgrading to more expensive/different types of eyepieces, I've used 4000s for years with no complaints. Also not sure how slim you need them, but up to the 26mm these stay pretty slim, above that they do get a little bulky.

Thanks, I'll check the dimensions of each and buy the longest I can get that will fit.

One thing to be aware of is that the 25mm and 32mm and probably the 40mm Meade Series eyepiece have deeply recessed eye lenses. I don't think it would be a problem for you but it's worth keeping in mind.

So I have a Meade basic camera adapter (projection photography) and I need to know if the higher focal lengths will work, so does anyone know if the mead 4000 (not 40mm more like 20mm or 25mm) higher focal lengths are about 1.25 through out the whole tube? It would help a lot if anyone could tell me. ,thanks

Thanks, but the pictures don't show me the width of the whole tube. I am looking for anyone that has one already. I know the dimensions of it but I do not know if it is 1.25 about through out the whole tube.

if you are talking about the clamp-on afocal camera adapters, yeah it should work on the most of the 4000 super plossls. They all stay about the same width with no huge protrusions. I know I tried one on the 20 and 26. I can't remember if I tried the 32 but it should too. I don't have the 40mm...

For your setup, you might see if you can get your hands an a vintage Celestron Silvertop 26mm (Japan, circa 1983), especially if you are using a barrel projection adapter that the eyepiece fits inside. I have since abandoned this method. Prime-focus is the way to go if you can achieve a good focus with some wiggle-room either side of the "sweet spot". A SteadyPix Deluxe camera mount (available from Orion) is the second best choice in my experience.

I have a Meade 26mm that doesn't say series 4000, but is identical to a friend's 26 that does. Perhaps its slightly different inside, but I'm betting not. I find it to be an excellent low-budget eyepiece and one I've used for eyepiece projection. I have it and one of the venerable Celestron Ultima 30mm's and, honestly, when I'm grabbing for an eyepiece in that general range, either one works fine. The slightly wider view of the 30mm is nice, but when I'm viewing something like a globular, they both give me a great view and I really can't complain. The Ultima 30, however, doesn't fit in my eyepiece projection adapter, so it definitely sees service there.

IMHO, its as good as you're likely to get until you start shelling out for a really nice eyepiece.